How Should SMBs Evaluate AI Tools?
Rather than starting with the technology itself, small business owners first identify a business problem, according to the SBA spokesperson. They advise that SMB owners be crystal clear about what they need an AI tool to do for their business.
“Once you know that, you can evaluate potential tools by how well they align with those needs,” says the spokesperson. “Instead of getting distracted with fancy tools your business will never use, figure out which AI tools integrate with your current systems, if it’s scalable as you grow and if it fits your budget while delivering a solid return on investment.”
When evaluating AI tools, it’s important for SMB owners to keep in mind that the best AI tool is one that fits naturally into a small business’s operations, is safe and reliable, and clearly adds value to the businesses bottom-line, says the SBA spokesperson.
“One big consideration is compatibility. Will it integrate smoothly with your existing software and workflows or create more headaches? Small businesses also want a solution that will grow with their company, so they should check that it’s flexible enough to handle their business as it expands,” the spokesperson adds. “Another factor is user-friendliness — making sure the tool saves the company and helps their team with their work.”
READ MORE: Build artificial intelligence confidence with the right toolsets.
The SBA suggests that one thing a small business can start with is a simple function: automated customer service, including thoughtful email responses with follow-ups for better customer engagement, which also helps with product ideas and marketing.
“A small business should also look at data security and privacy, ensuring the vendor has strong safeguards in place to protect a small business’s information. And finally, consider the cost versus the return: A small business should be confident that any efficiency gains will outweigh the price tag in the long run,” the spokesperson explains.
“Failing fast” is a phrase people use across industries when discussing the piloting of innovative technologies. As the SBA spokesperson puts it, “‘failing fast’ is about running a low-risk pilot, getting feedback quickly, and then iterating.” But is it a smart strategy for SMBs?
“For a small company, this approach beats pouring a ton of resources into a project only to discover issues much later. The key is to keep those initial experiments manageable — fail fast, fail small, learn from it, then scale up what works,” says the SBA spokesperson. “I do believe that it can be a smart strategy for small businesses experimenting with AI and can help them find what truly delivers value to their company without breaking the bank.”
